"Clang!"
"Clang!"
Sparks hissed as blades collided.
As the battle reignited at the center of the courtyard, the Hashira no longer looked away. Every one of them turned fully toward the fight, watching with undivided focus.
Sanemi Shinazugawa had already been injured by this swordsman named Raiden. That alone was enough to erase any lingering underestimation.
Within the clash of steel and wind, the Transparent World began to fuse with Raiden.
The process did not interfere with his battle against Sanemi. Instead, it accelerated his understanding and assimilation of the state.
Warmth spread through Raiden's limbs, his torso, and deep into his consciousness. It was subtle at first, like a quiet glow forming beneath the surface.
This was the sign of integration.
Raiden's breathing gradually steadied, long and controlled, guided by the knowledge flooding into his mind. He adjusted each breath with care, synchronizing it perfectly with his movements.
Every inhale and exhale felt deliberate, like executing a technique that demanded absolute precision.
As the fusion continued, Raiden's strikes grew sharper. His movements lost unnecessary flourishes, each attack aimed closer to vital points.
Pain followed.
It surged from within his body, deep and relentless.
Every blood vessel and muscle fiber felt as though it were being crushed and reforged. Raiden clenched his teeth, forcing himself to endure while continuing to fend off Sanemi's relentless pressure.
The pain came in waves, then receded.
And when it did, Raiden's perception changed.
His awareness sharpened beyond sight alone. He could feel the flow of his own body, the rhythm of Sanemi's movements, the subtle shifts in balance and intent.
For the first time, openings appeared.
Raiden did not know if they were truly there.
But instinct told him that if he struck, those attacks could be broken.
His body moved before his thoughts finished forming.
"Clang!"
The clash sent a jolt through Sanemi.
Something was wrong.
Raiden's attack felt different.
Faster. Heavier. More precise.
The rhythm of the battle began slipping from Sanemi's control.
He frowned and pressed forward.
"Clang!"
The same discomfort returned.
Sanemi's eyes narrowed. Raiden now felt like an entirely different opponent, as if he had stepped into a heightened state.
As the integration neared completion, Raiden's movements became even more refined. This stage was the most difficult.
It demanded complete control over both mind and body.
Raiden could not afford a single lapse.
His goal was clear.
To see the Transparent World.
The moment the fusion completed, the world before him changed.
Everything became clearer.
Movement, intent, structure, all of it laid bare.
Raiden's attacks and evasions flowed naturally, without excess or waste.
The balance of the fight shifted.
Sanemi Shinazugawa, who had previously handled Raiden with ease, now showed faint signs of being suppressed.
"That can't be right… Shinazugawa is being pushed back."
Mitsuri Kanroji covered her mouth, her eyes trembling.
The change was obvious, not only to Sanemi, but to all of them.
Sanemi had not activated another breathing form, yet the force behind his strikes had increased.
Under normal circumstances, Raiden should have been defeated by now.
Instead, in less than a minute, his swordsmanship transformed.
Crude became refined.
Imprecise became exact.
What they had spent years, even decades, polishing, Raiden had advanced through in moments.
"A higher realm…"
Kyojuro Rengoku murmured quietly.
He himself had felt trapped at a bottleneck for years, standing at the edge of something greater without knowing how to step forward.
What Raiden was displaying now resembled that very threshold.
Yet Raiden had not even reached Hashira level.
How could he touch such a realm?
Sanemi was forced into defense.
Before, pride had kept him from using another breathing form. Now, Raiden gave him no opportunity to do so.
The attacks were too frequent, too precise.
If Sanemi attempted a form, Raiden would exploit the opening immediately.
Then, just as suddenly, the pressure eased.
Less than half a minute had passed.
In their final collision, Raiden fell out of the Transparent World.
His exhausted arms failed to withstand the force of Sanemi's blade.
He was sent flying.
"Damn it."
Raiden staggered as he landed, coughing up blood onto the grass.
The Transparent World was overwhelming. While in that state, he could even suppress the Wind Hashira.
But it was far too brief.
Defeating Sanemi Shinazugawa in that window was impossible.
Seeing Raiden's condition drop, Sanemi narrowed his eyes and surged forward.
Being suppressed by someone weaker, even for seconds, was infuriating.
Now it was his turn.
"Master has arrived!"
Sanemi halted mid-charge, his gaze snapping toward the figure emerging from the shadows.
Raiden exhaled deeply as he saw the blue Nichirin blade stop less than a meter from him.
"He finally came out."
Though he still possessed his Blood Demon Art, using it would demand stamina he no longer had.
The Transparent World had drained him severely.
"Greetings, everyone," Kagaya Ubuyashiki said gently. "It is a fine day. I am grateful to see the semiannual Hashira Meeting proceed without any loss among our members."
At once, the nine Hashira formed ranks and knelt.
Their movement was so swift that even Raiden could not see Sanemi withdraw.
Was that truly not his full strength earlier?
"I am glad to see you in good health, Master. I sincerely wish you continued well-being," Sanemi said.
"Thank you, Sanemi."
Kagaya's voice remained calm.
"Before we begin, I would like clarification regarding Tanjiro Kamado and Raiden. What are your thoughts?"
"Tanjiro and Nezuko are acknowledged by me," Kagaya continued softly. "I ask that you all acknowledge them as well."
"As for Raiden," he added, "he is as special as Nezuko."
The words were gentle, yet carried weight.
Even Raiden felt warmth spread through his body as he listened.